Louis Oosthuizen calls for 'complete change' as LIV star misses out on Masters

24 February 2024 , 03:00

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Louis Oosthuizen believes changes need to be made to the world rankings (Image: Getty Images)

Louis Oosthuizen has called on the Official World Golf Ranking to be 'completely changed' with the LIV Golf star set to miss his first Masters in 16 years.

Oosthuizen has announced himself as one of golf's top players during his career, especially on the major stage. The South African star remarkably only has one major triumph to his name, winning the Open in 2010 to go alongside his seven runner-up finishes across golf's four flagship events.

One of those near-misses came at Augusta National back in 2012, after the former Champion Golfer of The Year missed out on the iconic green jacket after losing to fellow LIV Golf captain Bubba Watson in a playoff.

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Twelve years later, Oosthuizen is one of many LIV stars who has lost the chance to tee it up at arguably the biggest event of the year thanks to his fall down the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). Despite luring in a number of the sport's biggest names - including Oosthuizen - the LIV setup are still yet to acquire world ranking points for its events.

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This will see a number of its numbers miss out on this year's four flagship events starting at Augusta, and for Oosthuizen this signals that changes needed to be made. Having headed to Oman for this week's International Series event in the hunt for some much-needed OWGR points, the South African told Gulf News: "I think the whole system needs to change completely.

"If they don’t want to give us World Ranking points on LIV Golf then they should change the system where they give spots to Majors on each tour around the world or something like that. I’m surprised those (OWGR) guys have a lot more experience than me, sitting on boards and doing their things, that I can’t believe there’s no solution to it.”

Louis Oosthuizen became one of the big names to join LIV Golf (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

The Stinger GC captain admitted he will miss playing in the sport's major championships, but was expecting the major snub would come on the back of his Saudi switch. "When I made the decision to join LIV Golf, I knew it was inevitable," he added. "I'll miss it because it's an unbelievable experience.

"It's a great golf course, a great tournament, but I honestly think the golf course is a little bit too long for me now anyway.” Whilst Oosthuizen will not be in Georgia in April, fellow LIV star Joaquin Niemann will be. Like the South African, Niemann has tumbled down the rankings since signing on the dotted line with LIV.

Despite the slump, the Chilean's hot start to the season has been rewarded with an exemption invite to compete at this year's Masters. "I am super excited with that news," he said on the back of his invite. "I obviously love that course at Augusta National and it is one of those courses you must be hitting it well off the tee and hitting it long. If I keep driving it well, I think it is going to serve me well and I’m looking forward to that week.”

Joshua Lees